The Boston Symphony Orchestra announced Monday, Feb. 2, that the Finnish conductor and composer will serve as director of the Tanglewood Festival of Contemporary Music in 2026, curating five programs July 23-27. - San Francisco Chronicle
The biggest winner was composer Gabriela Ortiz, who took three prizes — Best Choral Performance, Best Contemporary Classical Composition and Best Classical Compendium — for works performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel. - Gramophone
Created to commemorate the company’s 50th anniversary, Complications in Sue opens Wednesday with 10 composers commissioned to write eight-minute scenes. These collectively encompass the century-long life of a mythical everywoman named Sue. - Philadelphia Inquirer
The news comes as the Philharmonic is embroiled in a legal dispute with the Scottish Rite over payments related to renovations of the historic building. - Texas Public Radio
How did America’s greatest operatic institution get to the point of needing Saudi money to cover its $330 million annual operating budget? Ticket sales account for less than a third of that. - New York Post
“Sondheim, who died in 2021 at the age of 91, was also just a damn fine tunesmith, turning out songs that, in context or out, pop style or classical, slip easily into your ears en route to your soul.” - The New York Times
“The breakout single, ‘Golden,’ which spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, nominated for song of the year, the first time a Netflix production has been nominated in one of the Grammys’ big four categories.” - Los Angeles Times
“Ma has won Grammys across multiple classical categories including Best Chamber Music Performance, Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (with orchestra), Best Classical Crossover Album, and Best World Music Album for his work with the Silkroad Ensemble.” - Forbes
This livestream has a rich list of links to stories about the nominees as well as live updates from the red carpet and, eventually, the ceremony itself. - Los Angeles Times
The “uniquely American” model of funding opera meant that the National Opera had to leave, thanks to “a new mandate set forth by the Kennedy Center that every performance break even through only ticket sales and corporate sponsorships.” - The New York Times
“In the music business and beyond, all eyes will be on Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican superstar who dominates streaming with a distinctive style that mixes the rhythms and slang of his beloved island with contemporary reggaeton and trap.” - The New York Times
Young wrote: "My music will never be available on Amazon, as long as it is owned by Bezos. … I think the message I am sending is important and clear. Thanks for buying music locally and from independent digital services.” - Rolling Stone
“The Detroit Opera will showcase some of funk maestro George Clinton ‘s and P-Funk’s greatest hits this weekend, performed by violins, cellos, horns and other instruments tuned more for arias or sonatas than for tunes like ‘Flash Light,’ ‘(Not Just) Knee Deep’ and ‘One Nation Under a Groove.’” - AP
“Initially, the Philharmonic and Carnegie Hall will collaborate for five seasons, with Dudamel leading the orchestra in an annual concert opera, beginning (this coming) November with a two-night run of Puccini’s Tosca.” The cast will include Marina Rebeka as Tosca, Jonas Kaufmann as Cavaradossi and Ludovic Tézier as Scarpia.” - The New York Times
The companies, including Universal Music Publishing Group, Concord Music Group, and ABKCO Music, are seeking more than $3 billion in potential statutory damages over alleged infringement of more than 20,000 songs. - Music Business Worldwide
